On the prowl

With 15 points in 23 games, Shea Weber is second in Nashville scoring as the team sits second in the Central. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ryan Dixon
2009-11-30 14:50:00

One of the best self-effacing lines you’ll hear from a team’s scouting staff when they’re being applauded for mining a late-round gem in the draft is, “If we’re so smart, why didn’t we take him sooner?”

Maybe that’s how the Nashville Predators feel about Shea Weber, who was the third defenseman they drafted in 2003. Before nabbing Weber with the 49th overall pick, the Preds grabbed Ryan Suter at No. 7 and Kevin Klein 12 slots ahead of Weber at No. 37.

On a team defined by defense, Suter sees the most average ice time per game at 24:07, while Weber is close behind at 23:32. But Klein, who’s proving he belongs on an NHL blueline corps, has seen a huge spike in his ice time as well, now playing more than 20 minutes a game.

While only Boston and Carolina have averaged less than Nashville’s 2.36 goals per game this year, the ever-present team commitment to defense under coach Barry Trotz has helped the Preds pull ahead of everybody except Chicago in the Central Division.

Of course, a big part of what makes Nashville so tough to face is the strong play of goalie Pekka Rinne, taken 258th in 2004. That may not have been the smartest pick, but it sure was a good one.

THE HOCKEY NEWS POWER RANKINGS

RK.

TEAM

LW

OVERALL

L10

THE SCOOP

1

1

18-6-4

6-2-2

Penalty killing is first in the NHL, power play is fourth

2

4

17-6-1

7-2-1

Still waiting for Martin Brodeur to break Terry Sawchuk's all-time shutout mark, though he has now played more minutes than any other goalie in league history